Converting To and From Scientific Notation

Converting To and From Scientific Notation

Converting To Scientific Notation

To Change from Standard Form to Scientific Notation:

1. Place the decimal point such that there is one non-zero digit to the left of the decimal point.
2. Count the number of decimal places the decimal has “moved” from the original number. This will be the exponent of the 10.
3. If the original number was less than 1, the exponent is negative; if the original number was greater than 1, the exponent is positive.

Examples:

1. Given: 4,750,000
   4.75 (moved decimal point 6 decimal places)
   Answer: 4.75 × 10⁶
   The original number was greater than 1 so the exponent is positive.
2. Given: 0.000789
   7.89 (moved decimal point 4 decimal places)
   Answer: 7.89 × 10^-4
   The original number was less than 1 so the exponent is negative.

Converting From Scientific Notation

To Change from Scientific Notation to Standard Form:

1. Move the decimal point to the right for positive exponents of 10. The exponent tells you how many places to move.
2. Move the decimal point to the left for negative exponents of 10. Again, the exponent tells you how many places to move.

Examples:

1. Given: 1.015 × 10^-8
   Answer: 0.00000001015 (moved decimal 8 places left)
   Negative exponent moves decimal to the left.
2. Given: 5.024 × 10³
   Answer: 5,024 (move decimal 3 places right)
   Positive exponent moves decimal to the right.

Read More About:

• What is the meaning of Place Value and Face Value in Maths?
• What is the Place Value Chart of an Indian and International System?
• What is a Decimal Value and Place Value of Decimals?
• How do you Round to the Nearest Ten Thousand
• What is the Definition of an Equivalent Decimal
• What is the Difference between Ascending and Descending Order
• Addition and Subtraction of Decimals
• How do you Multiply and Divide Decimals?
• How do you Convert Fractions into Decimals and Vice Versa
• How do you Convert Unlike Decimals into Like Decimals

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